The Season of Reaching the Stars

CHAPTER 25

Maya made sure everything was perfect. Table for two. Candlelight around the table. A red rose in the middle of the table. Today the restaurant got a private order. There was someone who rented the entire restaurant for dinner hours. Maya has often done the same thing. Several times the restaurant is rented for private events or for a proposal event.

Since the tenant booked for two, Maya concluded tonight there will be a proposal. His eyes glare.

"What do you think?" Laura asked as she entered the restaurant and found Maya smiling to herself.

"I thought about every marriage proposal that happened in this restaurant. It's romantic to have a man rent an entire restaurant and ask a woman to marry him. If only my husband was a romantic." Maya sighs.

Laura smile. She has been invited to dinner with Maya and her family. Roni, Maya's husband, a stockbroker. Although they have been married for a long time, they have not been blessed with children. That's why Maya already considers Laura as her daughter. After meeting Roni a few times, Laura knew the man was not a romantic man. But their gazes, the way they touched each other's hands, Laura saw a great love there.

"The mother is not a romantic person" Laura commented. "But he really loves mbak. If I want to, I can cook for mbak and Roni's mas tomorrow night. You don't have to rent a restaurant. Whenever you want, this restaurant will always be available for you."

Maya smiles. "Congratulations, Laura. You don't have to do it. But your proposal may as well.

I'll talk to Roni sometime."

"And I'm always ready to cook for you both." Laura saw her senior face smiling brightly.

"Do you think the arrangement is perfect?" Ask Maya.

Laura saw Maya's work. "Yes. So perfect. I'm sure the woman won't be able to refuse the man's proposal. I have to go to the kitchen to prepare groceries."

The next hour, Lauta was ready to take orders. Maya enters with a gloomy face. "What's wrong?" Laura asked confusedly.

"I think the man has been dumped. The woman didn't come to the restaurant." Maya sighs. "Bas on the poor man."

Laura is sad. "Oh. It's so sad."

Maya agreed. "But he kept ordering food."

"I'll cook as well as I can. I hope my cooking will entertain him. What's order?" Ask Laura.

"The chicken spaghetti."

"That's all?" Laura asked confusedly.

"Yes. I've also suggested another menu, but the guy just wants chicken spaghetti."

"It's okay. I'll keep cooking good chicken spaghetti." Half an hour later Maya returned to the kitchen.

"Is there a problem with the spaghetti?" Ask Laura.

"The man wanted to meet the man who cooked the food."

Laura took off her apron and stepped out of the kitchen. "OKAY. I'll see him."

Laura pushed the kitchen door. His steps stopped when he saw the man sitting at the middle table. The man stood up and walked to the chair opposite him. He moved that chair. "Please sit down, Laura," he said.

Laura looked at the pair of brown eyes that asked her to sit down. Niko. He's the one who rented Antonio's restaurant. Laura took a deep breath. Sooner or later he has to face Niko. Laura stepped forward and sat down on the chair.

Niko sat in front of him.

"The taste of your chicken spaghetti is getting delicious" Niko commented.

"Hiring a restaurant where I work feels like too much, doesn't it?" Laura asked a little annoyed.

Niko faced Laura calmly. "I tried to call you, but you never accepted. I don't know your personal phone number. It's the only way I can meet you without interruption." Laura remained silent.

"So, you're a pasta chef now." Niko said again with a smile.

"And you've become a jewelry designer" Laura replied.

"Thank you, Laura. Thank you for handing over my jewelry design to Julien. You've helped me pursue my dreams."

"Is that why you wanted to talk to me? Then I accept your thanks" said Laura.

Niko shook her head. "That's not the only reason I want to talk to you. I also want to apologize for not believing your words. Erika told the truth on graduation day."

Laura looked at Niko straight. "It's all a thing of the past, Niko. I accept your apology. Is there anything else?"

"Why are you pretending you don't know me?" Ask Niko directly.

Laura decided not to answer. "How's Erika doing?"

Niko smiled. "He's fine. On honeymoon with her husband to Europe." "Erika's married?" Laura asked a little surprised.

"Yes" said Niko. "He's a doctor now. Her husband is also a doctor. Now I realize that I never loved Erika. And at the reunion, Erika said she also realized the same thing."

The news Niko gave Laura was shocked.

"On graduation day, I looked everywhere for you, but you were gone. I tried to catch you at the airport but couldn't find you. I called your HP, but it's not active. That day I realized that I liked you, Laura. I still like you even now."

Laura's breath stopped. Both of his hands were trembling under the table. His right hand touched the right leg where the wound was. Eight years ago, how much Laura wanted to hear Niko say that she liked him. Eight years later, Laura heard it. It's just that it's too late now.

"sorry. I think you'd better go home now" Laura said. His mind quickly thought of a solution so that Niko would not see him again. Laura is lying. "I already have someone I like." Laura hoped Niko would believe her.

Niko's answer was surprising. "I know," he said slowly. "Luki rafael. But I'm not gonna give up, Laura."

Laura was silent for a moment. Niko assumes Luki is her boyfriend.

Suddenly Niko took out a ring box and opened it. He thrust the star ring he made into the face of Laura.

"I made it six years ago. I made it for you." Niko looked into Laura's eyes.

The unexcavated pain permeated Laura's heart. He saw a ring of stars in front of him, then looked at Niko. Niko looked at Laura expectantly. And Laura must turn off those hopes. Niko deserves a better woman than her. Although her heart ached, Laura looked at Niko boldly.

"Niko....," he said slowly, "do you remember the first words you said to me when we were in school?"

"Of course." Niko looked back at Laura. "How could I forget it? At that time you returned a picture of my star ring and I said 'thank you'."

Laura shakes. "We met a year and a half before that. You hit me in the school garden and you said 'this is your book'." Laura thrust back the star ring box in front of Niko. "I can't take your ring, Niko."

Niko looked at Laura in confusion. He could not remember the events Laura said. But she knew Laura was telling the truth. "You're not fair, Laura," Niko protested. "I didn't know you at the time."

Laura stood up from her chair. "You never knew me, Nick."

Niko took the ring box in front of her and put it back in her shirt pocket. "Well, this time I gave up. I'm gonna go. But I'll be back. Even though I can't remember our first meeting, I know you like me. You wrote it in my school yearbook." Laura flabbergasted.

Seeing Laura's reaction, Niko smiled. "Do you think I'll never know how you feel?"

"You said you forgave me." Niko looked at Laura with sadness. "At least, let me be your friend."

Laura nodded slowly. "We won't be friends, Niko. Excuse me. Please, go."*("I must be cruel.")* said Laura inwardly.*("I have no other choice ")*.

"All right." Niko turned around. The sound of bells ringing was heard, then followed by the sound of closed doors.

Laura fell down. Maya approaches him and touches his shoulder.

"You know him, don't you?" Ask Maya. "The guy who's been calling you lately?" Laura nodded. "He's a part of the past I want to forget."

"Why don't you start a new relationship with her?" Advice Maya. "She seems to really like you."

Laura looked at Maya sadly. "How could I have started a relationship with him, if every time I saw him I felt deep sadness? After all, he deserves someone better than me."

"You don't like it?" Maya grabs Laura's hand.

"How I feel about her doesn't matter" Laura dodged. "I just know that she won't be happy with me. The legs parted without even saying goodbye. We never got a solution. Now he's got it."

"I'll always be by your side if you need me." Maya clasps her hands

Laura. "You can cry, if you want."

"No." Laura shook her head, then stood up. "I cried for him eight years ago. My relationship with him was over by then."

 

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A few hours later, Laura was already in her bedroom. Ever since the accident that hit her two years ago, and the first time she saw a wound on her leg, something inside Laura died that day. Maybe his ability to love a man.

Laura closed her eyes. But the memories with Niko came out. He wakes up and tries to keep himself busy cooking new recipes in his kitchen. After two hours of cooking fatigue, Laura's heart still hasn't calmed down. His right leg was a little tired. He sat down and finally fell asleep in the living room chair. His last thought before going to bed was a man with a pair of beautiful brown eyes.

 

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"He's coming again." Maya walks into the kitchen and whispers to Laura.

Laura took a long breath. It's been a week in a row that Niko came to his restaurant. This time as one of the restaurant's customers, and order another menu from time-to-time. Laura didn't want to see him, so she didn't come out of the restaurant kitchen at all. Even until Niko becomes the last visitor Laura does not come out to see him.

Niko should have understood Laura's intentions and not bothered her anymore. But Niko seemed to not care about Laura's efforts to avoid him. The servants begin to gossip about Niko and Laura's relationship without Laura's knowledge.

"Can't you just throw it out?" laura asked Maya.

"I can't drive customers away, can I?"

"I know," said Laura quickly. "I just wanted to talk. He's really stubborn."

"I admire his tenacity" Maya said. "He's very handsome too. You sure you don't want to have it?" Maya smiles at Laura.

"I'm sure. It's over between me and him." Maybe Laura can apply for a leave of absence in the next few days. Spending time with mom and dad, away from Niko. If necessary, he can take a longer vacation and go to another city, or abroad, to avoid Niko. He had no idea how to deal with Niko who kept chasing him.

Laura came home last. He locked the door of the restaurant and was about to walk home when he saw Niko in front of the restaurant standing leaning against the door of his car.

"Want me to drive you home?" bargain Niko with a smile.

"No need," answered Laura ketus. "My house is close."

Laura stepped out past Niko. From behind him he heard the car engine on. Niko's car drove side by side with her steps. Laura looked towards Niko with annoyance. When he stopped stepping, Niko also stopped her car. Laura could not hide her irritation and looked at Niko with a frown. Niko laughed at Laura's look.

Arriving in front of her house, Laura took the lock of the gate from her bag. The car behind him stopped. The sound of footsteps approached him. Laura's frustration is at its peak."Until when do you want to follow me?"

"Until you are willing to accept me," replied Niko simply.

"I told you I have a guy I like."

"You're not married to him yet. So I still have a chance." Niko smiled secretively. He had a piece of paper that read "DON'T GIVE UP" in his pocket. After knowing Laura had always taken her for eight years, Niko was sure Laura still liked her.

"I can't accept you, Niko. Until anytime," he said seriously. " The relationship between us is over. Why can't you take it?"

Niko was about to pull out the paper in her pocket, but Laura said again.

"I don't want to hurt you, Niko. But meeting you really makes me sad. Don't you want to see me happy? I really liked you eight years ago. When we parted before graduation, I was heartbroken. I can't live with that anymore. I've been trying to forget you for eight years. Now that I have a new life, I finally have peace. And suddenly you show up again. I'm really begging you. Please, don't bother me anymore!"

Niko walked over. His eyes looked at Laura straight. "Are you hurt now? when I see me?" Laura nodded.

"Did I make your life miserable?" ask Niko again.

Laura nodded again.

Niko's heart was filled with pain. "There's one thing I've regretted the most over the past eight years. I didn't trust you eight years ago. I wish I could turn the clock upside down and choose to trust you, but of course I can't. I spent eight years of my life regretting it. But I also realized during those eight years that I liked you. Continuously without stopping. Even if you're not by my side."

Laura held the feeling in her heart. "That doesn't change anything, Niko. I'm not Laura you knew eight years ago. Please let me go. Don't see me again."

"Is that what you really want?" asked Niko with a sullen look.

Laura strengthened her heart. "yes".

Niko looked at Laura's face. He remembers his past seasons in New York and Paris. Seeing the leaves change color every year. Laura's shadow always haunts her.

Laura entered the fence of her house. "So, you're gonna let me go, aren't you?"

Niko approached Laura. "I'll let you go..." Laura was relieved. But the relief was only for a moment.

"Only if a thousand seasons have passed," continued Niko.

("Don't do this to me, Niko") Laura said in her heart. Niko looked at him without blinking. ("he won't give up")."Well then," Laura said, "I'll spend the next thousand seasons rejecting you and driving you away. Goodbye, Niko."

Laura ran into her house. After feeling safe behind the door, she cried. His feet felt weak. He fell to the floor.

Meanwhile, outside the house, Niko looked at Laura's door for a long time. His heart is very sick. Laura tried her hardest to get away from him. The more he approached her, the more Laura stayed away from him.

Niko got into her car. He started the car engine and left Laura's house. Along the way, Laura's sad gaze flashed in her mind. Niko doesn't want Laura to be sad. Laura hasn't forgotten about it, she's sure about this one. And even though Laura didn't say it, Niko was sure Laura still liked it. There must be something else that causes Laura to always ask him to leave. Laura said she likes someone. Luki Rafael's. Niko would not give up on him.

Niko knew it was inappropriate to snatch another man's lover. But he cannot deceive his own feelings. After all, Luki once said that when Niko designed her order star ring, it was Laura who requested that the ring be star-shaped. Why would Laura ask for a star ring if not to remind Laura of herself? Niko knows Laura is completely fascinated by her star ring work. Luki Rafael does not know why Laura asked for a star ring from him.Luki would definitely not be happy if she knew Laura was thinking about another man when asking for the ring from her.

Niko smiled. ("How can I forget Laura that Laura herself hasn't forgotten me?")